Car-fender



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' C. P. WOODRUFF.

- GAR FENDER.

No. 551,805. Pai-.5115155 D55. 24, 1895.

ff V

W//VESSES.

ATTORNEYS.'

.PHOTULITHO-WASHI NGI'UN. DE.

(No Model.)

- C. P. WOODRUFF.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

GAR FENDER.

Patented 1300.24.1895.

lNo. 551,805.

. ANDREW B GRA l (N5 Model.) 4 sheetssheet 3.

C. P. WODRUFF.

GAR FENDER.

No. 551,805. Patented Dec. 24, 1895.

WITNESS/5S:

Arme/VHS;

ANDREW B GRMIMVI4 PHOT0UTHU.WASMINGTDN, D C

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4..

C. F. WOODRUFF. GAR FENDER.

No. 551,805. Patented De0. 24,.1895.

W74. ww. Y

By M255 ANBREWlB GRAKM.PHUTO'UTNUWASHINGI'DNL C.

UNITED STATES- PATENT Orricn.

CHARLES P. VOODRUFF, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.Y

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 551,805, dated December 24, 1895.

Application iiled August 14:, 1895. Serial No. 559,235. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES PNVOODRUFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar -Fenders, of

' which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate'corresponding parts.

This invention relatesto improvements in car-fenders of the class adapted for use upon trolley or other street-railway cars, the object of the invention being to provide an efficient life-saving device which will be so constructed as to be constantly operative during the time that it may be adjusted for use, while at the same time it will be adapted to be folded upon the dashboard of a car in such a manner as to take up very little space when it is not in use.

The device will comprise few and simple parts. It may be securely and readily attached to a car and it will be inexpensive and durable.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forthin the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, Figure l is a planl view of my device, illustrating same in its preferred form.A Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a portion of the platform of a car. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the device attached to the truck of a car. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing similar means of attachment. Fig. 5 is a plan View of my device, having an auxiliary cushion attached thereto. Fig. 6 is a front elevation. Fig. 7 is a side elevation. Fig. 8 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, showing one section of the auxiliary cushion. Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line x of Fig. 8. Fig. IO is a detail perspective View illustrating a portion of my device, and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one end of a car with my improved device attachedthereto.

In the practice of my invention in its preferred form I provide a semicircular framework A of meta1. This framework is preferably formed of tubular sections a and a',

which are joined at their points of intersection by elbows b. Across this framework is stretched a iiexible covering, preferably wirenetting B. Below this framework and secured thereto by suitable braces c is placed another frame O, Awhich is also semicircular in form and of larger diameter than the frame A. Stretched around the circular edge of these two said frames, and forming a continuous connection between them, is a flexible binding or covering D, which is preferably composed of soft rubber, which, owing to its resiliency, will not injure the limbs of a person with whom it may come in contact.

Hinged to the straight edge a of the frame A is a convex framework Ewhich is provided with a iiexible covering E. This said framework is adapted to prevent a falling body from being carried underneath the car.

The frame A is provided with two parallel braces d, to which braces is pivotally attached angular hangers F. Bolts f form the pivots and means of attachment between these two parts, and in order to maintain the framework A and its accompanying parts in a hori- Zontal position the angular hangers F are provided with lugs f upon which the braces d upon the framework A normally rest.

The hangers F are pivotally attached to bearings G by means of suitable bolts or pivots g, and the bearings Gr are securely bolted to the bottom of the platform H of any suitable car.

To maintain the framework A in parallel alignment with the platform of the car, I provide upon the hangers F extending arms f2, which normally bear upon the bottom of the platform II while the car is in a perfectly horizontal position.

In order to prevent the forward end of the fender or framework A from being driven into the ground by the oscillation of the carbody when its forward platform is depressed, I provide a stop comprising a metallic framework I, which is securely attached to the truck J of the car, and the cross-bar lof thisframework normally bears against the back edges of the hangers F. By the use of this framework it will be seen that by depressing the forward end of the car-platform the hangers F will be normally fulcrumed upon the crosspiece /ll of the framework I, whereby the braces (Z of the hangers F will be tilted upwardly, thereby carrying the forward end of the fender away from the ground instead of forcing it down, as would be the ease if the fender were rigidly attached to the platform of the car. This motion is specifically illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. l0 of the drawings.

The framework forming the body of the carfender, being pivotally attached to the hangers F, can be folded against the dashboard of the car when the device is not in use, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that my fender will take up very little room when it is desired to store cars in a car-house.

If desirable, my fender maybe attached directly to the framework I, which is secured to the car-truck. In this case the hangers F are shortened and the inwardly-projecting arms f2 are provided with sleeves f3, which surround the portions c" of the framework I and admit of the device being longitudinally slidable thereon, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

It may be desirable to provide the fender with auxiliary cushions. These cushions comprise a series of light metal frames K, which are supplied with a covering of wire-netting, and they are hinged to the circular edge of the framework A by means of curved springs k. These springs are securely attached to the frames K, and they are provided on their lower edges with depending bolts c, which engage with nuts I, whereby the whole is securely attached to the framework A. The weight of the frames K upon the springs k will maintain the said frames normally at an angle approximating that shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, and the said frames K are held in engagement with each other by means of projecting lugs m, which are alternately arranged one above the other in such a manner as to require the frames K to move simultaneously when pressure is brought upon one or more of them.

In the operation of my device, when a person happens to be caught in front of a moving car, the circular cushioned edge D will strike him at a point below the ankles and force him over upon the network of the fender, where he will be retained until the car can be stopped, and, owing to the peculiar construction of my fender, his injuries will b e slight, and it will be utterly impossible for him to be carried beneath the car or under the wheels thereof.

I do not confine myself to the speciiic mechanical construction as shown in the drawings and described above, as under the scope of my invention it will be obvious that slight modifications of mechanical construction will be permissible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a car fender, the combination of a semi-circular front frame having a cushion on the top thereof and a coating or binding of rubber or other flexible material upon the outer edge-thereof, and an upwardly extending back frame having a cushioned face, the said semi-circular frame being provided with two parallel braces, and two hangers which are pivotally attached to the said braces and extend at an angle upwardly therefrom and are pivotally secured to depending bearings upon the bottom of a car platform, the said hangers being' provided with rearwardly extending longitudinal arms at their upper ends, adapted to bear upon the bottom of a car platform, and forwardly extending longitudinal arms at their lower ends with projecting lugs thereon, adapted to en gage with the braces of the semi-circular frame; with a frame work adapted to be secured to the truck of a car and bear against the said hangers, whereby the forward end of the fender is prevented from being forced into contact with the ground by any downward movement of the forward end of the car to which the device may be attached; substantially as shown and described.

2. A car fender comprising a semi-circular frame having a top covering of wire-gauze and an outer edge covering of rubber, a hinged back section covered with wire-gauze and an auxiliary sectional cushion, comprising a series of frames which extend around and are secured to the outer edge of the said semi-circular frame by springs, which are rigidly attached to the said frames and which are bolted to the semi-circular frame, these said frames being provided with a wire-gauze or other flexible covering and projecting lugs or lips adapted to engage with each other; and depending hangers, which hangers are pivotally attached to and bear against braces of the semi-circular frame at their lower portion and which are pivotally attached to a car at their upper portion, and a frame work secured to the truck of a car which is adapted to engage with said hangers; substantially as shown and described.

In a car fender the combination of a semicircular frame having a top covering of wiregauze and an outer edge covering of rubber, a hinged back section covered with wire-gauze and an auxiliary sectional cushion comprising a series of frames which extend around and are secured to the edge of the semi-circular frame by means of springs, which springs are rigidly attached to the said fra-mes and bolted to the semi-circular frame, these said frames being provided with a wire-gauze or other flexible covering and projecting lugs or lips adapted to engage with each other; with depending hangers, which hangers are pivotally attached to and bea-r against braces of the IOO IOS

IIO

semi-circular frame at their lower portion and my invention I have signed my name, in pres- Whioh are pivotally attached to a oar at their ence of two Witnesses, this 10th clay of August, upper portion, and a frame Work secured to 1895.

the truck of a oar Whioh is adapted to engage CHARLES P. WOODRUFF. 5 with said hangers; substantially as shown and 'Vitnesses:

described. MARCELLA G. MCCLAINS,

In testimony that I Claim the foregoing as B. MCCOMB. 

